Introducing Our New Stick & Stitch Embroidery Designs

Say goodbye to tracing—and hello to simple, joyful stitching!

If you’ve ever wanted to add a sweet embroidered touch to a project but hesitated because of all the prep work… you’re going to love what we just added to the shop!

I’m so excited to introduce our brand-new Stick & Stitch Hand Embroidery Designs—a super convenient way to transfer embroidery patterns without any tracing, lightboxes, or fuss. Truly… just peel, stick, stitch, and wash away!

These sheets open up so many creative possibilities, whether you’re embellishing a quilt ...

 It was an early morning start with the alarm going off, and into the shower.   But.... there was a nasty intruder waiting for me in the shower, a horrible black cockcroach was on the glass shower wall and was waving his antennae at me!  What to do?  Whatever the answer was, I had to do it by myself.  So I crept into the shower, quickly placed a drinking glass over the insect, and a piece of card underneath to keep him inside the glass, rushed outside and threw him on the lawn, yuk. I didn't need that upset to ...

It's Christmas!!!! While we don't do a lot for Christmas these days because it's just the two of us, we still have traditions! They are just different. Like all of you, I have so many Christmas memories, but one in particular that I'm sure my parents will never forget. 

I was pretty young and was fast asleep in my bed when something woke me up. Likely, my mom was putting out the presents. I sprang from my bed and ran into the living room, shouting, "he's here, he's here!" Yep -- I thought Santa had ...

Both packages of treats reached my ...

After I finished working on that I pieced a batting for the next baby quilt that I will finish.

It's the lead up to Christmas and the days are still so busy.  On Monday the first thing on my list was a visit to the library, as I had found out that the local library would be closed for two weeks over the holiday period.  Oh dear, what if I run out of books to read!  So I called in and collected three more, just in case.   The library was nicely decorated and had quite a Christmas vibe, very nice indeed.

Letters for Santa go in the red box

I think that arm chair is for Santa

With ...

It has been a wonderful holiday week, with a slower pace, more time with friends, and the last of the shopping. Settle in with a cuppa for a long and picture heavy post. The gifts are under the tree, and the stocking stuffers are hidden for when Santa comes on Christmas eve. Handmade cards were sent, and Christmas cookies baked and frosted to enjoy at leisure. Tuesday night, we had dinner with friends and went to the Lake Julian Festival of Lights show.

This is a small show, in comparison to others. But we love it simply because it is ...

Mom died a year ago this morning. There are constant reminders. When I first entered the kitchen this morning a photo of her and Lynnleigh greeted me on our electronic frame. That gave me pause, I drew a deep breath and then smiled. Then there are the cardinals... I saw two yesterday. There are constant God-winks. I miss you, Mom. It's all good, the reminders are comforting to me. Life goes

Mom died a year ago this morning. There are constant reminders. When I first entered the kitchen this morning a photo of her and Lynnleigh greeted me on our electronic frame. That gave me pause, I drew a deep breath and then smiled. Then there are the cardinals... I saw two yesterday. There are constant God-winks. I miss you, Mom. It's all good, the reminders are comforting to me. Life goes

This is such a fun time of year. Putting up decorations, listening to favorite holiday tunes in the car and while puttering around the house. My Sweet Babboo put up green garland and holiday bells on the veranda this year. We don’t do much because no one comes up here. These decorations we can see in the daytime as we come and go for errands and events.

Cloudy and rainy days were good for bird watching. Here, a titmouse is happy to have a meal.

The goldfinches are wearing their winter drab colors. Here one is sharing the bounty ...

 Several nights ago I went along to the Service of Remembrance put on by Harvey Bowler Funeral Services to remember those who had passed away during the previous year.  This was held at the Uniting Church and I really didn't know what to expect at all.   As it turned out, I knew several ladies also attending who had lost their husbands recently too.  I found seeing Robin's name up on the Scroll of Remembrance quite hard to cope with.  Rev Sandra took the service, and we were invited up to light a candle for our loved one, and ...

I got 2 quilts back from my longarm quilter and got them both trimmed and binding cut for both of them.  The blue Interweave binding was done all by machine.  I think its future owner will probably be someone who has no idea that some people hand finish their bindings.  I still hand finish my special favorite quilts.  This one has 2 fabrics on the back and they both show in this photo.  The widest piece is the light fabric showing at the top right in this photo.  The binding is 5 different blue batik strips out of my supply ...

During the month of December, I like to have my Christmas everyday dishes on the table for use all month. A few years ago, I found these stoneware salad plates in a design called Vintage Christmas and was just enchanted with them. I love the motifs and the black background. I looked back at previous Christmas tablescape posts, and the best I can remember, I got the plates in 2014. I think I found them at a thrift store. I use the set in different ways each year. For about 5 years, I only had the plates, and didn’t ...

…or holy cow, it’s December! Keeping it real…

Lighter decorating happened this year for Christmas

The quilting wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be.  The story behind this is that the 4 star blocks were a little too large for the flying geese strips added around them.  That means I did a lot of easing and stretching and the center didn't lay as flat as most of my quilts.  I tamed it pretty well with only one little tuck. I named this one Game Board.